Sloppy Joe Casserole
This Sloppy Joe Casserole is a hearty and comforting dish that combines the classic flavors of Sloppy Joes with the crispy goodness of tater tots. The saucy beef filling is layered with melty cheese and golden tots for an easy weeknight meal!
You’ll also love this Creamy Ground Beef Pasta, Cheesy Beef Tortellini Skillet, and Instant Pot Beef Stew!
Each bite of this sloppy joe tater tot casserole is a perfect blend of textures and flavors, making it a family favorite that’s sure to impress at any gathering.
Easy to prepare and even easier to enjoy, this casserole is a delicious way to bring everyone to the table. If you have picky kiddos (or husbands!) this dish is sure to have them licking their plate clean.
The homemade sloppy joes are adapted from this instant pot sloppy joe recipe. It’s quick, simple, and sauucy…the best part of a sloppy joe (or sloppy fred’s, as I like to call them).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Comfort Food Classic: This dish combines two beloved favorites—sloppy Joes and tater tots—into one hearty meal that’s sure to satisfy.
- Easy to Make: With minimal prep and just a few simple ingredients, this casserole comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights or weekends.
- Customizable: Feel free to tweak the ingredients! You can jazz up this traditional sloppy joe casserole by using ground turkey or ground chicken, by adding veggies, or by swapping in your favorite cheese for a personal touch.
- One-Pan Wonder: With everything baked in one dish, cleanup is a breeze—just enjoy the meal without the hassle of multiple pots and pans.
- Kid-Friendly: The combination of flavors and textures makes it a hit with kids, ensuring they’ll happily finish their plates.
- Perfect for Leftovers: This casserole tastes just as good the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or enjoying later in the week.
Ingredients Needed for Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe:
- Olive oil: to sauté the veggies with.
- Green bell pepper and sweet onion: to add in a bit of texture and some vegetables.
- Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef for this recipe.
- Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Granulated sugar: adds the tiniest hint of sweetness to balance out the savory flavors.
- White vinegar: this adds some acidity to the dish and gives it that slight tangy flavor.
- Ketchup, barbecue sauce, and yellow mustard: for that sauce, sloppy goodness.
- Shredded Monterey jack cheese: I like to shred my own block of cheese, as this helps it melt better.
- Frozen tater tots: for that golden, crispy topping.
How to Make:
- Sauté veggies: in a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté pepper and onion in olive oil until softened.
- Brown ground beef: add ground beef into skillet, along with seasonings, and cook and crumble until no longer pink.
- Add rest of ingredients: stir in the sugar, vinegar, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and mustard until combined. Bring ground beef mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for several minutes.
- Transfer to a casserole dish: spoon sloppy joe mixture evenly into a baking dish and then top with shredded cheese and an even layer of tater tots, followed by more cheese.
- Bake: place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the tots are golden and crisp.
How to Store:
Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature before storing and then transfer the leftover sloppy joe casserole to an airtight container. You can also use aluminum foil or plastic wrap if you don’t have a suitable container. Store the casserole in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make sure it’s tightly sealed to maintain freshness.
To freeze: If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze the casserole. Portion it into freezer-safe containers or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze up to three months. When ready to serve, let thaw completely in the refrigerator.
To reheat: When ready to enjoy leftovers, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the entire casserole in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the meat mixture and assemble the sloppy joe bake, excluding the tater tots. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to two days before cooking. When ready to bake, top the sloppy joe filling with tater tots and cheese and bake as directed.
To freeze for later: you can freeze the assembled casserole and the cover tightly and freeze for up to three months before baking.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joe’s:
Some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this meal are:
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Creamy Parmesan Rice
- Fresh, green side salad
Variations:
- Add some vegetables: stir in some mushrooms, spinach, or corn to the meat mixture for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Make it a spicy twist: mix in jalapeños or use a spicy Sloppy Joe sauce with chili powder to give your casserole a kick. You can also sprinkle some crushed red pepper flakes on top.
- Try a different cheese: sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or mozzarella would be a tasty swap.
- Add a southwestern flair: incorporate black beans, corn, and taco seasoning into the meat mixture. Top with crushed tortilla chips instead of tater tots for a crunchy finish.
- Make this a breakfast casserole: use breakfast sausage instead of ground beef and mix in some scrambled eggs before layering the tater tots.
- A gluten-free option: use gluten-free tater tots and ensure your sauce is gluten-free as well.
Looking for More Easy Beef Dinners? I’ve Got You Covered!
- Cube Steak with Gravy
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- One Pot Meatball Stroganoff
- Cheesy Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce
- Easy Taco Pasta
- One Pan Pizza Pasta
- Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 green bell pepper, (diced)
- ½ sweet onion, (diced)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 2 cups monterey jack shredded cheese, (divided)
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add green pepper and onions and saute for 6-8 minutes, or until softened.
- Add ground beef to skillet, along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook and crumble beef until no longer pink. Drain grease, if needed.
- Add sugar, vinegar, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and mustard to skillet. Stir well to combine, then bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer on low for 4-5 minutes. *If you feel the mixture needs to be more saucy, add a few more tablespoons of ketchup and/or barbecue sauce.*
- Spoon beef mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle one cup of shredded cheese evenly over mixture. Place tater tots in an even, single layer on top of cheese. Then top with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 25-28 minute, or until tots are cooked through and golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes, then serve.
Notes
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Any kind of shredded cheese works well in this recipe. I also love using pepper jack, mozzarella, or shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
- See my tips and tricks for making this Sloppy Joe Casserole above the recipe box.
